Title

"Cover Story" piece on leased camp lots, which has been a north woods tradition

Authors

Phyllis Austin

Source

Maine Times

Date

5-24-2001

Pages

4-6, 1

Abstract

"Cover Story" piece on leased camp lots, which has been a north woods tradition in Maine for more than a century. Today, that tradition is colliding with private property rights that are being exercised by wealthy non-resident owners who are not bound by long-standing relationships with camp owners. Most leases are renewed annually or every three years, and some extend back generations. Steve Wight, chairman of the Land Use Regulation Commission, said some people have spent up to $300,000 for homes built on leased lots, and were comfortable with that, but no one had ever pulled a contract before now. With special focus on Barbara and Ray DuCharme whose camp lot lease has been terminated by the new landowner, Dick Brown of Dallas, Texas, who recently purchased 20,000 acres around Moosehead. Also with special focus on Walt and Jan Kilbreth whose lot lease on Chesuncook Lake was cancelled by Massachusetts developer Chris Nash, who bought 2,719 acres on the lake. Stu Kalgren, president of the Maine Leaseholders Association, said there is no one who has a lease in Maine who is secure now.

Subjects

Access to forests, Leases, Brown, Richard H, DuCharme, Ray

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